Sorry for Party Rockin

Conrad's mom and her husband Jeff spoiled us all and rented a beautiful house in Oceanside, California right next to the ocean. the backyard had its own private beach and we were in heaven for 8 days and 7 nights. Relaxing in the sun with family, bonfires on the beach, falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing, waking up and walking outside to see dolphins, surfers, and waves... it was perfect.

I was a little worried about flying with Olivia. If you know Olivia you know she is wild and free and  does not like sitting still. even though the flight was only about an hour and 20 minutes I was still so stressed! But both flights turned out pretty good

 (minus the entire bag of Cheetos she dumped on the floor and the mean flight attendant that called her a boy and said "the juice is pretty sugary--let me dilute first" while giving me a judgmental look)

 I was also worried she wouldn't like the sand. She hates hates hates having her hands dirty and when she gets anything on them she whines until you wipe it off. Well.... I didn't need to worry! These pictures say it all.

We spent a day at the San Diego Zoo. Olivia loved pointing at the animals and quacking at pretty much every single one. I think her favorite was the flamingos.

We also went to the Oceanside street fair one night. That was really fun! We shopped, ate junk food, and Olivia danced to the live band on Conrad's shoulders. 

We went to Newport beach the last day to shop and hangout before our flight.

 

I am not much of a runner (i'd rather dance) and since Conrad is such a good runner I have always been intimated to go with him.  We went on our first run together right along the beach. We ran from our vacation house to the pier and back. I must say running right next to the Ocean made it enjoyable! All 2 miles of it-- which is a lot for a girl who normally barely makes it around the block.

Now get ready for a picture overload!

Thanks Lissa and Jeff for such a great trip!

A very belated Mother's Day post

considering it is now past Father's Day I guess you can say this is a very belated Mother's Day post. I just couldn't miss out on a chance to brag about the most amazing woman in the world, MY MOM. I already have tears in my eyes and I haven't even started writing about her. She is perfect and amazing in every way I wish I could be. She has a tenderness and patience about her that pulls at my heart strings. At times I feel so overwhelming grateful for her that I just cry on the way home from her house (this often happens when I have a migraine and she voluntarily and happily watches Olivia for me, bathes her, cooks us dinner, and sends leftovers home for Conrad. Which happens way more than you would believe. She is an angel!) I have never felt like a burden to her. I've never felt like she was too busy to visit with me or play with Olivia. Olivia absolutely adores her! When I come to pick her up after work she gets mad at me! Can you believe that?! I come home excited to see her and she wants nothing to do with me. She doesn't want to go home. She doesn't even want to look at me. She just wants Grandma. I don't blame her. and I like staying there until it's almost dark and prying her tiny tired hands away from grandma. They have such a special bond and I hope Olivia learns as much as possible from her.

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A few weeks before Mother's Day Olivia was up in the middle of the night, I was tired, and had work in the morning. I grudgingly got out of bed, picked her up, and sat in the recliner in the living room. I suddenly had a flash back to one of my first memories of my mom. She was hold me in a chair in the middle of the night. I don't remember what I was sick with or even any of the pain I felt that night. I only remember my mom patiently and so lovingly holding me in her arms. Tears streamed down my face as I remembered that moment and gave me the patience I needed to take care of Olivia that night (and the rest of the week... stupid ear infections!) My mom teaches me so much through her caring actions. It feels so good to know that  my kids will love me like that! and to know how much she truly loves and cares for me they way I do for Olivia. Sometimes people say "wow 6 kids? really... how did your mom do it?!" but it's easy to see that she was meant to be a mother. She is patient, kind, genuine, gentle, caring, and always puts others before herself. I am so lucky that she is my mom and the grandmother to my children.

Gorgeous Mother's Day flowers from my cute husband! 

Quote I framed and gave to my mom, mother-in-law and Conrad's grandma.

"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."

bits&pieces: a birth story

Lately I've been thinking a lot about Olivia's birth story. Maybe it's because it seems like everyone I know either just had a baby or is pregnant right now. Here are bits and pieces of that day. The day that changed me forever, gave me a purpose, and has made me the happiest I've ever been. If you don't like hearing about labor and delivery then just read what is typed in black. If words like epidural, dilated, contraction, induce, pushing, etc.,  scare you, then don't read what is in blue. I don't go into detail though so just relax.


+ I just finished with my baby shower. I had my hospital bag with me and Conrad left work to meet me at my mom's. We knew that with my blood pressure being high (again) they were most likely going to induce me.

+ It hit me in the car driving to the hospital. I was so scared. and nervous. and excited. and worried. and happy. I think in the 15 minute drive there I felt every emotion there is. Tears streamed down my face. I just looked at Conrad and said "I'm scared." He calmed me down like he always does. That little dreamer (read that post here) of mine can be a real life saver!

+ We were right! They wanted to induce me. We got to the hospital around 3:00 and they broke my water by 5:00. Everyone at the hospital was taking bets that I would have the New Years baby. I had been saying for weeks that I would have her on December 31. Even at the hospital I kept saying that I would have her today. The nurses tried to tell me with my first baby it could be a long process and it will probably be the following morning (but I was right again. ha!)

+ Around 8:30 I felt sick. so sick. I thought I was going to puke. They had to redo my epidural because I could feel all my contractions on my left side. I thought maybe it was from the contractions. Conrad was fanning me with a clip board when the nurse came in to check on me.

+ She decided to check me to see if I had progressed at all (I was at a 4 when I got there)

+ It was only 9:00 and I was at a 10! we were ready to go!

+ After about a half hour of pushing she said we needed to slow down to wait for the doctor to come back. So we pushed through every other contraction. He got there and I think she was born like 3 minutes later. 12/31/2011 at 9:41 pm. 6 lbs 5 oz. absolutely perfect.

+ Conrad was so amazing. He was my biggest fan. He cheered me on the whole time. He didn't act "grossed out" like some do. He was fascinated by it. He made me feel amazing and special and beautiful. That's how it should be. It's such a miracle. I'm glad he could see and appreciate that. I fell in love with him all over again.

+ We chose to name Olivia Kate after Conrad's little sister, Kate. Kate is a perfect role model and someone we should all strive to be like. She's strong, happy, loving, caring, genuine, and beautiful inside and out. She has a contagious smile and laugh. She lights up the room! The girl is seriously amazing.  Olivia is living up to that special middle name she was given.

+ Conrad didn't leave the hospital once. He stayed with us the whole time. I was so glad! I didn't want him to leave. He handled every situation perfectly for us. I couldn't have been more happy/proud/in love with him. (and still am!)

+ Some of my best memories with Conrad are those first couple weeks together as a family of 3. We laughed so much. We laughed at her pooping on us during diaper changes, we laughed at the faces she made, and laughed at how tired we were.

big kid on campus

Since Olivia turned one it's like she knows she's suppose to be a big kid now. She's not my little baby anymore and even though it makes me sad sometimes it is so fun to watch her grow.  She's just hilarious that one. She's been walking for a month now and I still don't think I'm used to it.  When she comes running down the hall with a shirt over her head? uhhh what is my little baby doing running around?!

The night it really hit me about her being a "big girl" was when I didn't give her a bottle, brushed her teeth, laid her down, put the blanket on her, kissed her goodnight and walked out of the room... and there was silence. No bottle to calm her. No momma to rock her. No crying. She let me tuck her  in and went to sleep! WHAT. Now that's toddler-ism right there. Isn't it? I mean I don't really know I'm a first timer over here but that sounds like a big kid, right?

our wild thing is 1!

Olivia turned 1 on December 31. We had a "where the wild things are" themed party because well she's a wild thing!

Christmas 2012

I love Christmas! I love finding the perfect gift for someone and anxiously waiting to give it to them. This year I had to wait a little too long. I bought almost all my gifts back in September and had a hard time keeping it a secret. but i did it! I gave Conrad a Macbook Pro and I was so excited to see his reaction. I didn't sleep on Christmas Eve. at all. I laid there. and laid there. and laid there. I wasn't sure Christmas morning was ever going to come!

Being Santa was so fun. setting out her little gifts by the tree, stuffing her stocking, thinking of all the joy the next morning would bring. ahhh I wish everyday was Christmas! I was so excited about giving my gifts I hadn't thought about what I would get. Our families are so thoughtful! I cried several times because I was just so happy/surprised. Grandma Jean and Grandpa Merrill got us a journal/history of the Hansen family. I cried. Lissa got us a nights stay at the homestead. I cried. My parents got us a Kirby vacuum. I cried. Lissa also gave me earrings with Olivia's birthstone and I wear them almost everyday. I love them so much. I will remember this Christmas forever. It was so perfect.

LUCKY

The other morning Olivia sat on my lap in the recliner. We were both in our PJs, snuggled under a blanket listening to music on the iPad. We were just talking and dancing when she turned her head and looked at me for a second. Like really looked at me and then she planted a kiss right on my lips. It wasn't the first time we were in that setting snuggled together. and it wasn't the first time she kissed me, but in that moment I felt pure happiness. My eyes got teary when I thought about how much joy I felt in that moment. and they are again right now.

I'm so lucky to have her. being a mom is the best job in the world.